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| Malaysia |  Review on August 24, 2017: |
KULtoATL
Rating:  | Review Topic: K1 Visa
10 am interview but I arrived at 9 ish. No queue nor crowd. A guard told me I can go through security immediately to enter the embassy compound.
Registration counter: Provided my ID card and visa interview confirmation page. Lady checked my appointment against her list, stamped my visa interview confirmation page with a B, returned the page to me and issued me a visitor tag. My ID card was held at the counter.
First security checkpoint: Handed in my mobile phones, power bank, USB cable and earphones and was given a pigeonhole number tag. Bags were scanned (like airport security checks) and I walked through a detector. Collected everything and walked to the actual embassy building.
Second security checkpoint: Guard manually checked my bags casually and I walked through yet another detector. After I was cleared, I was instructed to go to the interview hall, which was on the left.
Interview hall: Queue number ticket guy checked my visa interview appointment confirmation page. Gave me a queue number ticket that began with a B followed by three numbers. He told me to hold onto it and get my documents out from my folders. Just as I was opening my folder, my queue number was called. I had to go to the document submission window.
Document submission window: Lady asked for my visa interview confirmation page and returned it to me after taking a look. Gave me a slip which was supposed to act as a letter of intent for me to sign and date as well as a copy of the domestic violence pamphlet. Then she started to ask for the following:
1) DS-160 confirmation page
2) Passport
3) 1 passport photo
4) Queue number ticket (she tore one portion from the two-part ticket to be affixed to my passport)
5) Original Certificate of Good Conduct or other police certificates
6) Original birth certificate + birth certificate copy + birth certificate translation
7) Medical envelope - she returned me the x-ray CD
8) Transaction Confirmation page (document delivery address registration confirmation page)
9) Visa fee payment receipt
10) I-134 + tax transcripts
11) Evidence of relationship - video call screenshots, call logs, one Christmas card (I received from my fiancé) - asked if she wanted more and she said no
Waiting hall: After submitting all documents, I was told to go to the waiting hall. This hall is across the interview hall. It is situated on the right side of the second security checkpoint. Put my stuff back into their relevant pockets. Sat for less than 10 minutes and my number was called again and was assigned Counter 7.
Interview counter: My interview session was at Counter 7 and the consular officer was Gordon Wood. He was pleasant but nothing overly friendly. He remained courteous and professional throughout. I took my oath and continued with biometrics. Once I finished my fingerprinting, he started to ask me questions:
1) How did we meet?
2) When's the first in-person meeting?
3) Was that visit to the US specifically to visit him?
4) Where did the first in-person meeting took place?
5) Where does he live?
6) What's his job?
7) Has he ever been married?
8) Have I ever been married?
9) Has he been to Malaysia?
Upon hearing my answer to his final question, he got busy looking for some papers on the shelves. I almost burst into tears thinking he was gonna deny my visa application or tell me to submit more documents. He couldn't find what he needed so he went to the next counter only to come back with the domestic violence pamphlet. He asked if I had gotten that and understood the content to which I answered yes. Finally, he didn't say my visa was approved. Instead, he said everything looked good and I should wait to get my visa in the next few days.
Waiting hall: Ushered by the queue number ticket guy to the other hall. I was told that I could take as much time as I want there to re-organize my stuff or whatever. Quickly packed up my things, checked I have my original birth certificate back and changed into a pair of flip flops because my shoe straps broke. Embarrassing as f-ck considering I was in an embassy! It's damn funny too.
Exit: Left the embassy compound via the tall manual turnstile.
Collection counter: Returned the visitor tag and pigeonhole number tag. Retrieved my ID card and my electronics.
Overall comment: I'm happy with my experience at the embassy this round after two extremely horrible ones previously for my B2 visa applications (1 denied in 2007/08 and 1 approved in 2015). All the guards on duty were polite, document submission window lady was a good sport and the queue number ticket guy was helpful. Consular Officer Gordon Wood had proven to me that consular officers at the US Embassy in Malaysia could be pleasant and professional at the same time without the need for intimidation and spewing baseless allegations. He probably won't be reading this but still, thank you!
THE END
(updated on August 24, 2017)
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #22390